Scrap Tire Cleanup Grant

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Scrap Tire Program provides Scrap Tire Cleanup Grants to address the environmental and public health hazards associated with abandoned scrap tires in Michigan. Scrap tires that collect water create breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes, such as those transmitting West Nile Virus, and pose severe fire risks that produce toxic runoff and dangerous smoke. Grants support community-based municipal cleanups, private property cleanups, and residential drop-off events to improve compliance, prevent illegal hauling and dumping, and foster circular economy tire markets.

Eligible applicants include Michigan public and non-profit entities such as cities, villages, townships, counties, tribal governments, watershed organizations, and recycling authorities, as well as owners or representatives of private property in Michigan with 500 or more scrap tires. Selected applicants must partner with a registered scrap tire processor and execute a Direct Pay Agreement. Processors must be registered vendors in the State of Michigan SIGMA Vendor Self Service (VSS) portal. For cleanup of tires accumulated on private property after 1991, EGLE places a lien on the property for the grant amount. Funding priority is given to sites with tires accumulated prior to 1991; sites with over 500 tires posing imminent threats to public health, safety, welfare, or the environment; residential drop-off programs; regional collaborative proposals; permanent scrap tire collection sites; and applicants not funded in the prior fiscal year.

Eligible projects include the cleanup of abandoned scrap tires on public property, cleanup of 500 or more scrap tires on private property, and scrap tire collection events for Michigan residents. Ineligible projects and expenses include work conducted prior to grant agreement execution, staff time and labor costs, advertising, loading equipment, expenses exceeding statutory maximum reimbursement rates, cleanup where a viable liable party exists, and tires generated by commercial businesses or agricultural operations under the Michigan Right to Farm Act. All funded activities must comply with state permit and prevailing wage requirements.

Applicants must complete and submit the online grant application through EGLE's portal, selecting either the Community Cleanup Grant Online Application or the Private Property Cleanup Grant Online Application. Applications must describe project objectives, estimated tire counts or volumes, collaborative partnerships, and processor arrangements. Successful applicants are notified by email and must enter into a formal Grant Agreement with EGLE within 45 calendar days of award notification.